Distributor structure



C. L. JULIAN ETAL DISTRIBUTOR STRUCTURE Bed. 17, 1957 Filed July 28, 1955 INVENTOR.

Clarence L. Julian and David C; Redick Their A'r tgrney United States Patent DISTRIBUTOR STRUCTURE Clarence L. Julian and David C. Redick, Anderson,

Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detrort, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application July 28, 1955, Serial No. 524,917

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-30) This invention relates to ignition distributor structures and is particularly concerned with an improved breaker point assembly for an ignition distributor as used with ignition systems of internal combustion engines.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a breaker point assembly for a distributor in an internal combustion engine wherein the breaker points thereof may be adjusted externally of the distributor while the engine is operating and which assembly may be removed or installed as a unit in the distributor without disturbing the other components thereof such as the condenser, connections to the vacuum advance mechanisms, etc.

It is a further object of the present invention to assemble the breaker point assembly from several subassemblies which are arranged so the factory adjustments and calibrations will be maintained when the breaker point assembly is installed as a unit in the distributor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a breaker point assembly with a support plate which is adapted to be fastened directly to the rotatable advance plate of a distributor, and acts as a support for the stationary contact assembly and the breaker arm assembly to provide a unitary assembly which will have the factory adjustments maintained when the unit is installed in the distributor where it is bodily moved by the advance plate when the advance plate rotates.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide an improved breaker point assembly which may be removed and installed as a unit on a rotatable plate in a distributor without disturbing the remaining parts of the distributor or upsetting the factory adjustments of the breaker arm assembly of the distributor and which breaker arm assembly is provided with an improved spring anchor and terminal connection to facilitate the assembly of parts during manufacture.

In carrying out the above objects, it is another object of the present invention to provide a molded insulated part which will embrace a notched lug which is formed on the support plate of a distributor which molded part may be assembled with the notched end of the breaker arm spring to form a sub-assembly which may be readily assembled with the remaining portions of the distributor breaker point assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide anirnproved connection between the end of the breaker arm spring and a terminal lead in a distributor which connection may be slipped over and embrace a notched lug on a support plate of a distributor breaker point assembly.

-It is another object of the present invention to provide a breaker point assembly with an improved spring anchor and terminal connection which will permit the movable breaker arm to be readily assembled to the remaining portions of the breaker point assembly both during manufacture and whenever the distributor requires replacement of the points.

-It has been found that the conventional connection between the leaf spring of the movable breaker arm and the remaining portions of the assembly is normally difficult to accomplish. Heretofore the notched end of the leaf spring was secured to the anchor lug by an arrangement which required that a bolt be passed through the notched end of the spring and a grommet in the aperture in the lug. When this structure is employed, it is impossible to remove the distributor breaker arm without disassembling of the notched end of the leaf spring from the grommet. This arrangement considerably increased cost of manufacture of the breaker point assembly and provided a connection which was difiicult to achieve whenever the distributor points required replacement. The present invention also is directed to the elimination of these difiiculties by providing a spring anchor and terminal connection arrangement whereby the insulating member may be first assembled to the end of the leaf spring before assembly on the remaining portions of the breaker point assembly.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a distributor showing the breaker point assembly with the improved spring anchor and terminal connection according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing the subassemblies of the breaker point assembly.

Figure 3 is an exploded view in perspective showing the shape and arrangement of the parts which form the spring anchor and terminal connection as assembled in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view along lines 44 in Figure 1 showing the external adjustment means for the breaker point assembly shown in Figure 2.

In the drawings and in Figure I particularly, a breaker point assembly 20, according to the present invention, is shown as installed in a distributor 22 which may be of the type disclosed in application Serial No. 400,024, which has been assigned by the inventors to the assignee of the present invention.

The breaker assembly 20 is preferably secured by screws 23 to a plate 24 that is movable within the distributor in response to engine vacuum. The screws 23 extend through mounting holes 86 in the support plate 26 which provides one of the components of the assembly shown in Figure 2.

The support plate 26 is formed to have a pair of lugs 30 and 32 projecting upwardly therefrom. The lug 32 has an opening 33 which has a diameter greater than the diameter of adjustment screw 34 which is used to externally adjust the opening of the breaker point contacts 35 and 37 as will be hereinafter described. The lug 30 serves as an anchor for the fixed end of the spring 49 and is provided with a pair of ears 36 which serve to strengthen lug 30. A U-shaped notch 39, formed to extend downwardly in the lug 30, is sized to receive the interconnecting Web portion 40 of an insulating part 42. The part 42 is preferably formed of molded nylon to have a pair of channel members 44 and 46 which are interconnected by the web portion 40. The channel members 44 and 46 are formed and located so that the material of the part 42 will surround the notch 39 and cover the opposed faces of the lug 30. The Web portion 40 of part 42 is formed with a notch 48 which is sized and located to be in alignment with the notch 39 in lug 30 when the parts are assembleth'one upon the other. The nylon part 42 serves to insulate the end 50 of spring 49 from lug 30. The breaker arm assembly 90, shown in 3 Patented Dec. 17, 1957 Figure 2,which includesthebreaker arm 91, the spring subassembly 90 which carries. the movable contact 35,.

may. be formedwhen the clip 52 ispositioned. to embrace; the. molded part 42. and the notchedcnd 5.0. of

thespring 49 is held againstmovement between the clip and'the nylon. part by the threaded member. 58.-which engages .the threads in. aperture 54 of. clip 52. When this.subFassembly-90is formed, the parts may be readily installed on the remaininglportions. of the breakerassembly. 2.0 .by merely slipping thebearing portion 64 of the breaker assembly over the pivot pin 66 and permitting the channel members 44 and 46 to embrace the opposite sidesof lug 30 by slippingthe part 42 over lug 30. At this point, it isto be noted that when the breaker arm sub-assembly 90is installed on lug 30 of the support plate 26, the ears 36, as formed on lug 30, will limit the rotative movement of part 42 and the portions of channel member 46 will hold. the clip member 52' against rotationwhile, the interconnecting. web 55 of clip member 52. prevents displacement'of the end '50 of spring 49. When the parts are in position on lug 30, the terminal clip 6270f conductor 64a is positioned behind the headed portion 60 of threaded member 58 which, when tightened,

will provide. a tight electrical connection between the conductor 64a and the spring 49' while simultaneously providing a firm anchor for spring 49.

The breaker assembly 20 is also provided with a means which will permit the opening between contacts 35 and 37 to be adjusted from a point exterior to the distributor 22. This is accomplished as shown in Figure 4 by providing the stationary contact sub-assembly 69 with a threaded aperture 68 in a lug 70 which is formed on a base 72 which carries the stationary contact 37. The plate 26 is also provided with an elongated arcuate opening 74. This opening is located on the radius from a point located along the axis of pin 66. The opening 74 is located to cooperate with an aperture 76 in base 72 of the stationary contact sub-assembly 69'so that a secur ing means which may include a bolt or rivet 78 and a wave-washer type spring member 80 maybe used to help maintain the base 72 in position on plate 26. The external adjustment of the points 35 and 37 is accomplished when the threaded member 34 is rotated through a suitable wrench or screw driver from a point exterior to the distributor 22. The member 34 is threadedly received in aperture 68 and is loosely received in aperture 33- to have a limited movement therein. When the member is turned in the proper direction, the distance between the stationary contact 37 and the movable contact 35 may be increased or decreased. After the proper adjustment of the points is accomplished, the member 34 is held against further rotation by a spring member'82 which is disposed around the member 34 and between lugs 32 and 70'. The locking is further accomplished by the lock washer 84 which is located between the headed portion of'themember 34 and lug 32.

From the above, it is manifest that when a breaker point assembly 20 is used in a distributor 22, it may be installed as a unit on the rotatable breaker plate 24. The assembly' 20..will be bodily moved by the plate '24 and the plate; '24. rotates in. response to'engine vacuum. The assembly'ofi the: breaker point assembly 20 on the plate 24 is accomplished byaligning: the holes 86 on support plate zfifwith suitably threadedand. locatedholes; not shown,

in breaker plate 24. When the parts are in this position, the rubbing block 88, which is carried on the breaker arm sub-assembly 90, will be in engagement with the rotatable cam 92. In this connection, it is to be noted that the tension on spring member 49 is preferably preset at the factory when the sub-assembly 69 and the breaker arm sub-assembly 90 are assembled. This arrangement will minimize the possibility of having the spring incorrectly tensioned which has been found objectionable in the modern automobile. Thus, the arrangement of having the breaker point assembly arranged so that it may be installed as a unit in the distributor of a vehicle is very desirable as it will reduce the cost of servicing the vehicle as well as minimize the possibility of having the vehicle operate incorrectly because of improper tension on the spring of the breaker arm.

While embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutepreferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might .be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A terminal connection and a spring anchor for use in a distributor breakerpoint assembly, wherein the assembly comprises ;a plate having a pivot pin and. a lug spaced from said pin, said lug having. a notch portion and a pair of spaced ear portions projecting from one face thereof, a movable breaker arm pivotally mounted on said pin and. having an extending resilient notched arm projecting therefrom, comprising in combination a U.- shaped insulating part constructed to be slid into position on the lug and embrace surface portions of said lug surrounding said notch and be held against rotation thereon by said ear portions, a U-shaped member adapted to embrace saidi U'-shaped part, said member having a pair of apertures therein alignable with said notch in said lug when themember part and lug are positioned on one another, and a threaded member having a headed portion for holding the end of a terminal member adapted to be embraced by the notch in the resilient member for holding the resilient member and terminal member in position on said lug when said threaded member threadedly is received in the apertures in said U-shaped member;

2. In a connection for a resilient arm of the movable breaker arm and the terminal end of a conductor in a distributor breaker point assembly wherein the assembly has a notched lug in spaced relation from a pivot for the movable-arm, comprising-a part of insulating material having spaced walls and a central notched portion arrangedto-embrace at least two opposed faces of said lug and surround the notch therein when the part is slid into position onthe lug, a second part adapted to embrace the notched portion of said first part and a third part adapted to extend through the notched portion in said first part and be threadedly received bysaid second part for holding all of said parts on said lug, all of said parts being-constructed and arranged for holding a notched end of'the resilient armof said movable arm and the terminal end of theconductor inposition on said lug-for providing an. anchor and terminal connection for said resilient arm.

-3. In a distributor breaker point assembly, having; a platehaving a means providing a pivotal connection for a breaker arm and a lug spaced from said means having a notched portion, a resilient leaf spring arm having an endextending from said breaker arm formed with a notch that is alignable with the notch in saidlug when said-breaker arm is pivotally mounted on said pivot means, a terminali connection and. spring anchor comprising; a

unitary part of. insulating material having parallelly spacedwalls interconnected by a UJ-shaped. web, constructed and arranged to slidinglyembrace said lngand providean insulating. surface for the opposite faces there of and. the; material. ofsaid lug; which surrounds said notch, a second. unitary'part' having. a pair of' spaced. arms, interconnected by a web, constructed and arranged toembraoe.

said. first part with. an; aperturein each of the arm. portions of said second part aligned with the notch in said lug when said parts are embracing one another and a means adapted to be secured in at least one of said apertures for yieldably maintaining the embracing relation between the parts, said means being constructed and arranged to be embraced by the notched portion of said leaf spring and the terminal end of a conductor to hold the notched end of said spring and said other parts in assembled relation whereby the spring and terminal end of said conductor are insulated from said lug when the assembled parts are positioned on said lug and said means is tightened in said second part.

4. A breaker point assembly adapted to be bodily installed as a. unit on a rotatable vacuum advance plate in an ignition distributor so that the breaker point assembly is bodily movable on the plate during rotation thereof, comprising; a support member constructed and arranged to be removably attached on said advance plate having a lug and a pivot pin thereon, a stationary contact assembly adjustably and bodily movable about said pivot pin and a movable contact arm assembly having, a portion on one end adapted to engage a portion of the stationary contact assembly, an intermediate portion journalled on said pivot and a means on the other end slidable on said l-ug for insulating said arm from said support member.

5. A breaker point assembly adapted to be bodily installed and detached as a unit from the vacuum advance plate in an ignition distributor, comprising; a support plate apertured to receive a fastening means for securement to said vacuum plate said support plate having a pivot pin and a pair of spaced lugs located in spaced relation from a rotatable cam carried by said distributor, a stationary contact assembly having an apertured end adapted to embrace said pivot pin and the other end bodily movable carrying a pair of spaced lugs one of which has a stationary contact carried thereon and the other of which is disposed in alignment with one of the lugs on the support plate when the stationary contact assembly is positioned on said support plate, means associated with the aligned lugs on said stationary contact assembly and said support plate accessible from the exterior of said distributor for adjustably and bodily moving said stationary contact assembly about said pivot and maintaining the position of said stationary contact when moved relative to said distributor cam, a movable breaker arm assembly pivotally mounted on said pivot pin having; rigid and resilient arms extending in opposite directions from said pivot pin, said rigid arm having a contact on one end spaced from said pivot pin and engageable with the contact carried on the stationary contact assembly, a rubbing block spaced intermediate said contact and pivot pin engageable with said distributor cam, resilient arm having a notch on one end and means carried by the notched end of said resilient arm for connecting said resilient arm with the other of the lugs on said support plate for providing an anchor and terminal connection for the resilient arm of said movable breaker arm assembly.

6. A breaker point assembly adapted to be bodily installed as a unit on a rotatable advance plate in an ignition distributor so that the breaker point assembly is bodily movable on the plate during rotation thereof by the vacuum advance mechanism that is operably connected with the engine wherewith the distributor is associated; said assembly comprising; a support member constructed and arranged to be removably attached on said advance plate, a stationary contact assembly adjustably and bodily movable about a pivot carried by said support member, a means operably connected with said stationary contact and support member accessible from the exterior of said distributor for adjustably and bodily moving said stationary contact assembly about said pivot and yieldably maintaining said contact assembly in position on said support member, and a movable breaker arm assembly having a means connected to one end portion adapted to slide on and embrace an upstanding lug on said support member, a contact on the other end portion arranged to engage a stationary contact on said stationary contact assembly and a portion intermediate said end portions movable on said pivot.

7. A breaker arm assembly adapted to be installed as a unit in a distributor having a pivot pin, a stationary contact and a lug in spaced relation to each other, comprising means on said arm for pivoting said arm on said pin, a spring on said arm for urging a contact on said arm into engagement with said stationary contact when said arm is pivoted on the pin, and a preformed insulating part means carried by said spring and constructed to slide on and embrace said lug during assembly of the arm on the pin for forming an insulated attachment between said lug and spring.

8. In a unitary and adjustable circuit breaker assembly adapted to be removably mounted in a distributor having a breaker plate, the combination comprising; a support plate adapted to be removably attached to the breaker plate, a stationary contact arm pivotally mounted on said plate and carrying a stationary contact, a breaker arm pivotally mounted on said support plate and carrying a movable contact which is positioned for mating relation with the stationary contact, a spring acting between the breaker arm and support plate, an adjustment screw acting between said support plate and a portion of the stationary contact arm for moving the stationary contact arm relative to the support plate into a predetermined adjusted position therewith and means for attaching the support plate to the breaker plate.

9. In a unitary and adjustable circuit breaker assembly adapted to be removably mounted in a distributor having a rotatable breaker plate, the combination comprising; a support plate adapted to be removably attached to the breaker plate, a pivot post mounted on said support plate, a stationary contact arm pivotally mounted on said pivot post and carrying a stationary contact, a breaker arm pivotally mounted on said pivot post and carrying a movable contact which is positioned for mating relation with the stationary contact, a spring acting between the breaker arm and a portion of the support plate, an upturned flange on said support plate, an adjustment screw acting between said flange and a portion of the stationary contact arm for moving the stationary contact arm relative to the support plate into a predetermined adjusted position therewith, and means for attaching the support plate to the breaker plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,290,078 Thomas July 14, 1942 2,594,447 Kerr Apr. 29, 1952 2,640,891 Buck et al. June 2, 1953 2,713,094 Zocchi July 12, 1955 2,727,104 Filko Dec. 13, 1955 

